LAND USE
Historic and Recent Land Use
Historically the area of the Sac River basin was frequented by Osage and Delaware Indians. The first
European settlers are speculated to have arrived from Tennessee around 1820. Sparse records make
specific information prior to 1832 speculative in nature. The first documented settlers were two brothers
from Tennessee that homesteaded in the area southwest of present day Bolivar in 1832-33. The eastern
half of the Sac River basin was contained in Polk County as established in 1835 when Greene County
was divided. Polk County was given its present day configuration in 1845 as a result of the formation of
Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Hickory, St. Clair, and Webster counties.
Diversified farming was the principle occupation in the area through the early 1900s. Livestock
production has been a significant agricultural enterprise in the Sac River basin throughout its history.
Dairy farming became the primary agricultural enterprise in the basin beginning in the late 1800s and
continuing through the 1960s, with peak production occurring in the 1930s. Beginning in the 1950s beef
cattle production became the dominant agricultural commodity of the basin. Grain crops were the most
frequently cultivated agricultural products in the early 1900s. Grain crops were gradually supplanted by
hay and pasture production. Hay and pasture have dominated cultivated crop production since the 1960s
for the area. The Sac River basin is one of the top cattle and hay producing areas in Missouri.
About 40% of the Sac River basin area was originally prairie (Schroeder 1982). The remainder was a mix
of upland glades, savannahs, and oak-hickory forest.
Landcover in the Sac River basin is predominantly grassland/pasture with forest second in abundance
(Figure 10). The majority of grasslands are composed of non-native cool season grasses, primarily
fescue. Grazing and hay production are the two most common uses of these expansive grassland areas.
Forested areas (primarily deciduous) are more prevalent in the area between Stockton and Truman
reservoirs in the northern-most reaches of the basin (Lower Sac River, Turkey Creek, and Brush Creek
sub-basins). Row crop agriculture is concentrated in the western section of the basin (Horse-Cedar-Alder
creeks sub-basin).
Soil Conservation Projects
Three communities in the basin participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); Everton,
Ash Grove, and Republic. Five communities in the basin, identified as having flood prone areas but not
participating in the NFIP, are Billings, Humansville, and Stockton (FEMA 2001).
Several efforts to reduce erosion and implement environmentally sound practices in various stream
systems have been used in the Sac River Basin. Five Special Area Land Treatment (SALT and EARTH)
projects have been/are being implemented in the basin. They are Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) funded projects administered through local soil and water conservation districts.
These projects utilize a variety of practices to reduce impacts while maintaining effective use of the
resources. The initial SALT projects were initiated to focus primarily on soil erosion. New SALT
projects are focusing on improving water quality in watersheds by reducing all forms of agricultural
non-point source pollution and are usually designated as AgNPS SALTs. Currently there are two AgNPS
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SALTs in the Sac River basin on the Upper Little Sac River watershed (Table 1 and Figure 11).
Proposals have been submitted and funding is pending for similar projects at Valley Water Mill in the
upper Little Sac River sub-basin in Greene County and in the Bear Creek basin, primarily in Polk
County.
The Upper Little Sac River AgNPS Salt is made up of two watersheds totaling 44,954 acres. There are
approximately 100 miles of stream, Fulbright Spring, and McDaniel Lake in these watersheds. Land use
is estimated to be 59% grassland, 23% woodland, 3% reservoirs, and 14% other uses. Concerns in the
watershed include increased urban growth, stormwater runoff, non-point pollutants resulting from poor
land management practices, and contamination of groundwater via septic systems, sinkholes, and
abandoned wells. Project goals are to protect and maintain the quality of drinking water resources while
enhancing economic sustainability for agricultural producers through education and improved land
management practices. The AgNPS SALT project is administered by the Missouri Soil and Water
Conservation Service and receives support and technical assistance from a variety of agencies and
organizations including Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), MDC, University Outreach
and Extension, the City of Springfield, Southwest Missouri State University, and Stream Team
volunteers.
Public Areas
Most public areas allow activities such as fishing, hunting, birdwatching, nature study, and wildlife
photography. Activities such as horseback riding, biking, camping, etc. that can cause environmental
disturbance are restricted to certain areas and may be prohibited on some areas. Restrictions vary
between public areas. Table 2 lists the public areas in the Sac River basin and known permitted activities.
Figure 12 shows public area locations.
Corps of Engineers 404 Jurisdiction
Most instream and some stream-side projects require 404 permits. Applications for permits should be
directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office. The Sac River basin is under the jurisdiction of the
Kansas City District.
Kansas City District USACE
700 Federal Building
Kansas City, MO 64106-2896
(816)426-5357
Topographic Coverage
Figure 13 depicts 7.5 minute topographic map coverage for the basin.
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Table 1. Soil conservation projects in the Sac River basin.
Name
Type
Total
Treated
Acres
Acres
Dates
Upper Alder Creek
SALT
8,189
2,577 1994 - 1998
Crabtree Branch
SALT
5,070
2,120 Completed 6/94
Jordan Creek
SALT
5,565
1,312 Completed 6/94
Sons Creek
EARTH
57,639
1995 - 1999
Brush Creek
EARTH
54,341 13,811
1995 - 2001
Upper Little Sac River
AgNPS SALT
44,954
Sept. 1997 - June 2002
Sac River
AgNPS SALT
1,260,800
Oct 2000 - June 2006
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Table 2. Public areas in the Sac River basin.
Area
Antioch Bridge Access
Birdsong CA
Blackjack Access
Bluff Springs CA
Bois D'Arc CA
Bona Glade Natural Area
Brush Creek CA
Chesapeake Fish Hatchery
Dilday Mill Access
Acres Activities
83 Fishing, Hunting, Boating
(Turnback Creek frontage)
430 Fishing, Hunting, Camping
212 Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Boating
(Sac River and Brush Creek
frontage)
415 Hunting, Fishing
2,892 Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Shooting
Range
18 Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Nature
Study
158 Hunting, Camping, Hiking
119 Hatchery Tours
4 Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Boating
Ownership
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
(Sac River Access)
Fiddlers Ford Access
Fellows Lake
Horse Creek Prairie CA
Indigo Prairie CA
La Petite Gemme Prairie CA
Little Osage Prairie CA
Little Sac Woods CA
McDaniel Lake
Monegaw Prairie CA
Nathan Boone Home
Ozark Cavefish National Wildlife
Refuge
Niawathe Prairie CA
Paris Springs Access
Pawhuska Prairie
Pennsylvania Prairie
50 Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Boating
(Turnback Creek frontage)
820 Fishing, picnicking
80 Hunting
40 Hunting, Fishing
37 Wildlife Viewing, Nature Study
38 Hunting, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
772 Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking
(Little Sac River frontage)
300
270 Hunting, Fishing
356 In development
40 Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Nature
Study
320 Wildlife Viewing, Nature Study
MDC
CU
MDC
MDC
MPF
MDC
MDC
CU
MDC
MDNR
USFWS
MDC/NC
208 Fishing, Hunting, Camping, Boating MDC
(Turnback Creek frontage)
76 Wildlife Viewing, Nature Study
MDC
133 Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
MPF
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Phenix Access
Pleasant Hope CA
Rocky Barrens CA
Sky Prairie CA
Sloan (Dr. O. E. & Eloise) CA
Stockton Reservoir
Stony Point Prairie CA
Truman Reservoir
Turkey Creek CA
Twenty-Five Mile Prairie CA
155 Fishing, Hunting, Boating (Clear
Creek frontage)
1,106 Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking,
Shooting Range (un-manned)
191 Hunting
200 Hunting
320 Hunting, Fishing
41,472 Hunting, Fishing, Camping
640 Hunting, Fishing
162,495 Hunting, Fishing, Camping
160 Hunting, Camping
220 Hunting, Fishing, Hiking
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
MDC
USACE
MDC
USACE
MDC
MDC
1 - CA = Conservation Area, NA = Natural Area
2 - MDC = Missouri Department of Conservation, CU= City Utilities of Springfield, MPF = Missouri
Prairie Foundation, NC = The Nature Conservancy, USACE = U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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